Bajaj seems all set to launch the Pulsar NS 160 in India next month with the bike reportedly making its way to dealerships across the country. The bike will be based on the AS 150 model while its styling will be similar to the 2017 Pulsar NS 200.

With good monsoons forecast this year, rural sales should give a leg up to the traditional UV market, LCVs and motorcycles dependent on agricultural demand, with more disposable income to spend. Moreover, with the GST regime set to tax SUVs at a lower rate compared to smaller cars, the SUV market is expected to boom. Other vehicle segments are also expected to benefit as a spin-off.

According to sources at leading advertising agencies, last year India’s top automakers, including but not restricted Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, spent more than Rs 2,600 crores combined on their digital marketing campaigns. This also includes the amount spent during the 2016 Auto Expo held in February last year.

Pawan Munjal, chairman of the country’s biggest two-wheeler company, said that there is a need for Hero to play a more active role in the upper segment of the bike market which is currently dominated by products from companies such as Bajaj Auto, Yamaha and Royal Enfield.

The merger will be implemented on January 1, 2017, and the new company will be called “Yamaha Motor Precision Parts Manufacturing Company. It will have a capital of 310.80 million yen (around Rs 20.3 crore).